Reloading 223: Swage before or after resizing?

[SWThomas]

I just ordered all the remaining items I will need to start reloading 223. I'm a Dillon guy so I got the Super Swage 600 to take care of those pesky primer crimps. I plan to have 2 tool heads for this set up. Tool head #1 will have the resizing/decapping die in station 1 and the Dillon RT1200B in station 2 for trimming. Mine plan is to run all the brass through tool head #1, then swage, then tumble again to remove case lube and brass shavings. Tool head #2 will have the powder drop, seating die, and crimp die.

My question is: will swaging after sizing and trimming have any effect on the case mouth? I know the Super Swage 600 uses a rod that you slide the case onto mouth first. I just want to make sure the resized neck will not be adversely affected during the swaging process.


Thanks!

 

[smschulz]

Do it first for the reasons you mentioned above.

 

[mdmp5]

I would swage first, then resize. To me it makes sense to save the sizing op for last

 

[milo 2.0]

It'd pay to get the primer out of the pocket before swaging. I wouldn't worry about it. One could put a neck die in tool head 2. Then the lube issue is gone also.

 

[mdmp5]

I should have pointed out that I don't deprime with the sizer. I do it before tumbling with a decapper

 

[SWThomas]

I did it again. I forgot to mention I'm loading 223 for an AR-15.

 

[sinister]

I've done it both ways and it doesn't seem to affect the loads at all.

Ideally you'd have a de-prime only die on the first tool head, then swage the pocket before resizing to avoid any risk of knocking the neck off true after you'd sized it.

 

[smschulz]

Lee decapping die first.
I don't decap when I resize anyway.

 

[Pinecone]

The way I do it.

Tool Head #1 -
Lee Universal Decapper in Station 1
Dillon Sizing die in Station 2 (tip, pull the primer seater if on a 650 so if a primer is not fully removed at station 1, it will be able to fall out).

Tumble to remove lube. Corn cob media.

Swage - Dillon 600

Tool Head #2 -
Station 1 - Nothing
Station 2 - Powder Drop
Station 3 - Nothing (or a powder check)
Station 4 - Bullet seater
Station 5 - Lee Factory Crimp Die if desired

Then I tumble again for 15 minutes to remove any finger prints, etc.

 

[gimpy]

I say at the same time. You've already got the 1200 trimmer. It would look very nice on a 1050.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Doesn't make a difference if you deswage before or after you trim, your set up sounds good.